Harderwijk paralympic swimmer Lisa Kruger returns from Portugal with two golds and three silvers at the European Championships

April 29, 2024 at 9:30 am

Swimming

MADEIRA Paralympic swimmer Lisa Kruger has had a successful week in Madeira. At the European Para Swimming Championships, the Harderwijk native (23) won no fewer than five medals: two gold and three silver.

Kruger became European champion in the 200-meter individual medley and the 100-meter freestyle. She also stood on the podium at three other distances. There were three silver medals in the 100 meter breaststroke, the 100 meter butterfly and the 100 meter backstroke. The Harderwijk native had managed to qualify for this European Championship at six distances.

The 50 meter freestyle was swum in a season’s best time (28.39), with an eventual fourth place just two-hundredths of a second behind bronze. The 100 meter breaststroke was also on the program on the same evening. Although Kruger was not very satisfied with her time (1.17.01), there was still silver for the Harderwijk woman.

Kruger had reason to be very satisfied in the 200 meter individual medley. For the first time since the 2022 World Cup, Kruger swam under 2.30 again. With 2.29.51, Kruger put the competition behind by more than five seconds, allowing her to win the European title by force majeure.

In the final of the 100 meter butterfly, there was silver again for the paraswimmer. Kruger opened the race offensively and turned easily first. However, she was unable to maintain that lead, so she had to settle for silver: 1.07.98.

Things went well for Kruger in the 100 meter freestyle. After 75 meters she was a close second in a line of four swimmers, but eventually the Harderwijk woman managed to press the accelerator so far that she was the first to tap. With a time of 1.01.18, a season record for Kruger, she became European champion for the second time.

Kruger also led the way in the 100 meter backstroke with four ladies. Kruger managed to hold on and only had to let the Paralympic and World Champion Bianka Pap from Hungary go ahead and eventually received her third silver. Finally, Kruger also competed in the 4x100m freestyle mixed relay. The foursome swam to fourth place.